Tigers first baseman Prince Fielder rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays on Saturday in Lakeland, Fla. Teammate Miguel Cabrera also homered in the game. / Julian H. Gonzalez/Detroit Free Press

Trying to capture the scene for everybody back home. For everybody sick of winter.

Watching Torii Hunter run the steps in an empty stadium after practice. Baking in the sunshine. Drenched with sweat. A 37-year-old ballplayer doing extra work. Trying to steal a few more years. Trying to win a ring with the Tigers.

Smiling as one of Miguel Cabrera's children sleeps in front of his locker. On a towel. During a game.

Seeing Prince Fielder hand his bat to a young boy after batting practice.

Wondering who will be the Tigers' fifth starter. Porcello/Smyly. My guess? Porcello. The young lefty to the bullpen. A win-win.

Cracking up watching Jeff Cox, the new baserunning coach. Energetic. Wild. Fun. As crazy as a crazy old uncle. Pull my finger. Go ahead, pull my finger. This guy wakes up smiling. Joking. More hyper than a jacked-up latte. Extra caffeine. Austin Jackson will steal more bases this year. If he doesn't, it's Jackson's fault.

Watching Cabrera at the Tigers' barbecue, interacting with fans. Volunteering to be there. Posing for countless pictures. Welcoming. Smiling. Approachable. A superstar who acts like a Walmart greeter.

Asking Jeff Kobernus about his tattoos. Roman numerals across his upper body. For his parents' birthdays. The image of St. Michael down one arm. Defeating evil. A tribute to his sister, Julie, down the other. She has cystic fibrosis. He could be the new Quintin Berry. With more versatility.

Shaking my head, watching Victor Martinez clean his cleats at his locker. Bending over. Working diligently. Using a can of Scrubbing Bubbles. Refusing to let the clubhouse attendants do it for him like the other players. Scrubbing. Scrubbing. Scrubbing bubbles. After every practice. Every day. "I think he has OCD," Alex Avila says, looking at Martinez.

Loving this Tyler Collins kid. The outfielder of the future. Tough. Gritty. A football player in a baseball uniform.

Trying to remind myself that spring-training games don't count. Until, wham! Fielder smashes a home run over the palm trees. And then, wham! Cabrera crushes one over the tiki bar. Suddenly it seems important. A glimpse into the future.

Wishing fans could listen to Jim Leyland in the manager's office. Speaking off the record. Explaining his moves.

Watching Justin Verlander get mad at himself for not throwing strikes. For not being perfect. For not being Justin the Great. In his first time on the mound. In practice. On a back field. In February.

Thinking this team should be very good. Could be headed back to the World Series. Maybe. If the starting pitchers stay healthy. If Bruce Rondon is the real deal. If the stars play like stars. If Martinez's knees hold together. If the role players can roll. Could be a special team. Maybe. If.

Believing, deep down in my gut, that Cabrera could not care less what Octavio Dotel says about him. If Dotel can get people out in the seventh inning.

Wishing Rondon spoke English. Seems like a fun kid. Happy. Confident. But no idea if he can throw strikes under pressure. In a real game.

Trying to study Jhonny Peralta. Not sure about his range. Might be quicker. Certainly not slower.

Believing Andy Dirks will continue to hit. Such a simple tight swing. A simple approach. See the ball, hit the ball. Wouldn't be surprised if he ends up the full-time starter in leftfield.

Amazing. Off the charts, amazing. Watching Al Alburquerque throw on a back field. Throwing gas. Seeing the excitement on Leyland's face. Hearing the excitement in the skipper's voice: "Way to go, Albey!"

Watching Cabrera stay after practice. Doing extra work at third base. Taking grounders. Hoping to remember that scene, someday, when he goes into the Hall of Fame.

Starting to think that Jackson is the biggest key to this team. Just getting on base.

Wondering whether Avila can stay healthy. Takes such a beating back there.

Laughing while watching a drill. Pop-ups. The ball in the air. "I got it!" Hunter screams, running for the ball. "I got it! I think I got it!"

Finding it hard to get on a plane to go back home. Back to winter. After two weeks at spring training.